Cost: Musical Motif Show/opening reception, 6 to 8 p.m. today at the Dutot Museum, free. Dance, classical music and theater from 7 to 9:30 p.m. today at the Presbyterian Church of the Mountain, $10. Main Stage, noon to 9 p.m. Saturday and noon to 8 p.m. Sunday, $28 daily or $40 for two-day admission; seniors 65+ and students with ID, $15; children 5-12, $10; and children under 5, free. Jazz Mass, 10 to 11 a.m. Sunday, Main Stage, free.

The people of the Poconos will be snappin' their fingers on "2" and "4" this weekend as the Delaware Water Gap Celebration of the Arts presents the 37th annual COTA Jazz and Arts Festival.

This year, the festival will stage more than 15 performances by 75 artists from the local region.

Delaware Water Gap has long been a destination for jazz musicians from New York City and around the country. Many come to play sets or jam with other artists at the historic Deer Head Inn.

It was one such occasion 37 years ago that sparked the inspiration for the COTA Jazz and Arts Festival, according to the renowned saxophonist, composer and Delaware Water Gap resident Phil Woods.

The 81-year-old Woods said an idea struck him, as he and many others waited to sit-in with the legendary pianist John Coates, Jr. "A lot of us were working at the resorts, and after our gigs we'd go to the Deer Head Inn. And I looked around and said to my good friends Rick Chamberlain and Ed Joubert, 'We should move this outdoors,' and they said, 'OK, let's do it,'" he said.

That spontaneous moment between Woods, Chamberlain (now the principal trombone player for the New York City Ballet) and the late local innkeeper and arts lover, Joubert, was the beginning of a Poconos landmark tradition.

"We came to the conclusion that spiritually it's a great place to live as a jazz musician," Woods said. "We wanted to share a gift with the community, and we thought it was a good idea to have a festival. And so from such humble beginnings, it's become quite an event. People really look forward to it."

In fact, every year about 3,000 people attend the festival, according to Lauren Chamberlain, COTA board president. However, it's the ones who donate their time that really make the festival happen, she said.

"Because we are an all-volunteer, non-sponsored festival we don't 'make' any money. We are empowered by about 115 volunteers that annually come back and help us at the festival," she said.

Lauren Chamberlain, who is the daughter of COTA co-founder Rick Chamberlain, added that the aim of the festival is not necessarily to make a profit. "We budget into our operating costs the ability to always be able to give scholarships to young jazz musicians. Our goal is not to make money; it is to continue the tradition of jazz and to share with everyone the amazing talent we have living in this area."

Many of the scholarships are for CampJazz — an intense week-long training for inspiring jazz musicians that was started eight years ago.

For Woods, who helps direct the camp with other accomplished jazz professionals, keeping jazz alive with young players is of utmost importance. "The torch has been passed, and we got these kids coming in who are bright and sharp — they're playing their hearts out."